Mike Gravel just joined the libertarians. The same anti-war, anti-imperialist platform as Ron Paul, but he differs in these areas (and probably others):
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Links can be found here: http://www.gravel2008.us/issues

Global Warming/Climate Change. Senator Gravel believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet. As President, he will act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by initiating legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions. He is also committed to leading the fight against global deforestation, which today is second only to the energy sector as a source of greenhouses gases. However, any legislation will have little impact on the global environment if we do not work together with other global polluters. China, India and under-dveloped nations all work together fighting climate change can only be effective if it is a collective global effort. As President, Senator Gravel will see that the U.S. launches and leads a massive global scientific effort, integrating the world's scientific and engineering community, to end energy dependence on oil and integrate the world's scientific community in this task. For more information go here, here, and here.

Progressive Taxes - A fair Tax. Senator Gravel's Progressive Fair Tax proposal calls for eliminating the IRS and the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax on new products and services. To compensate for the tax on necessities, such as food, lodging, transportation and clothing, there would be a "rebate" to reimburse taxpayers. This would be paid in a monthly check from the government to all citizens. The focus on taxing new goods would also help tackle the global climate change problem. For more information go here and here More information on what FairTax is and how it works can be found here, here, and here.

Healthcare. Senator Gravel advocates a universal healthcare system that provides equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits. For more information go here and here.

Social Security. Senator Gravel wants to put real money, rather than borrowed money, in the Social Security Trust Fund. He advocates investing it properly and identifying the interests of individual beneficiaries so they can know what their retirement fund is and leave surplus funds to heirs.

Education. Access to public education is a bedrock American value. Why is it then that the United States ranks 49th in literacy and that an estimated 30% of our students don't graduate from high school? Investing in education provides a pathway to a thriving national economy, to individual and family economic opportunity, and to the reduction of poverty. A successful education system requires the commitment of families, the community, and government. It's time to re-order our national budget priorities in order to improve the American education system. Parent education and access to preschool programs such as Head Start need to be expanded so that children from lowincome families are equally ready to benefit from elementary school. Universal pre-kindergarten would also enhance readiness. Encouraging our students to be the best they can be will require flexibility from the federal and state governments, within school systems, and from groups with a stake in educational success. Flexibility may mean extended school days and summer learning opportunities or extended school years. It may mean online and broadcast courses to provide access to highly qualified teachers. It may mean charter schools to address the needs of local communities, smaller classes, enrichment programs for students at risk, and vocational options. One thing we know for sure: No Child Left Behind has left too many children behind. It needs to be reformed and adequately funded. It needs to acknowledge the need for a fuller curriculum that encourages critical thinking—not just math and science test-taking. A high school diploma should be the minimum goal for all students; without it, our children will be condemned to a substandard economic existence.

Veteran's Affairs. As President, Senator Gravel would ensure that veterans receive full funding for their most important needs, including healthcare that is indexed to the increasing cost of care and medicine. He would make sure that all soldiers receive a full medical diagnosis to assess what their individual needs would be. He would also make sure that the VA system is fully financed and has sufficient well-trained personnel to provide the finest care that is available. As the Senator says, "We can do no less and we will do much more."
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(actually, I can't imagine his stance on these issues playing well with many libertarians, but oh well...)

His positions on war, democracy, net neutrality, etc. are at the link above.

I think he'd do a lot better for himself in the reform party (if that is even still around) or green party. He calls himself an FDR democrat, but the Libertarian party was founded to dismantle the new deal.

I think he'd do a lot better for himself in the reform party (if that is even still around) or green party. He calls himself an FDR democrat, but the Libertarian party was founded to dismantle the new deal.

Exactly. It's like Hillary joining the black bloc. He seems more green than anything, i suppose.

Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel, now running for the Libertarian Party nomination for president, explains how he helped to force the expiration of America’s conscription program, the many views he holds in common with libertarians (eg: the war, the draft, the military industrial complex, empire, habeus corpus, renditions, the Patriot Act, Alaskan Oil and fair debates), democracy versus limited government, America’s belligerence toward Iran, his desire for an unlimited majoritarian world state under a reformed United Nations and his position on trade and trade agreements. (Edited for phone troubles with as much content spared as possible.)

sounds like a he veers away from the Libertarians in many ways. Most Libertarians wouldn't want a world government, see reforming UN is something to do with a bulldozer, don't believe in government mandated fair debates.

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